Andy Fields was the first recipient of the Best Import Award back in the 1981 Open Conference. It was the first time that the PBA gave out recognition to the most valuable import and has been a tradition from thereon.

Michael Young, a southpaw, with a deadly medium to long range jumper, was a 6'5 import of Manila Beer (in tandem with Harold Keeling) that placed 2nd behind Ginebra San Miguel in the 1986 Open Conference and Great Taste Coffee in the 1987 season. One of the most prolific imports ever, Young was a member of the Phi Slamma Jamma of the University of Houston Cougars, alongside Akeem (later Hakeem) Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, former Tanduay import Rob Williams, former Tanduay reinforcement Benny "The Outlaw" Anders, former Great Taste import Alvin Franklin, among others.

Young didn't partner with Ramon Fernandez. By the time Young played for Manila Beer, Fernandez had already been traded for Abet Guidaben of Tanduay in a controversial deal. Guidaben was the teammate of Young with the Brewmasters in the 1986 Open Conference runner-up finish.

Crispa had Tom Cowart in the MICAA days (early 70's); and Cyrus Mann in the mid-70's, who was responsible for one of their championship title.

Nag toyota pala yun si Snake Jones. Diba naglaro din sa Crispa yun. Si Larry Mcneil ng Gilbeys Gin i remember scored an all time high in the PBA and what he did was he had one his shoes to be tied in the rafters of Araneta coliseum.

Bobby Parks is in town being treated for his cancer disease. Rumors have it that Parks left his hometown in Memphis to have his cancer treated here because SBP / TNT / Ateneo / San Beda head Manny V. Pangilinan wants his son Bobby Ray Parks, whose mom is 100% pinay, to play for any of his team, particularly the national team. Since MVP owns Makati Medical Center and Cardinal Santos Hospital, Parks can receive his treatment here without cost. The concession is Bobby Ray will suit up for Norman Black's team Ateneo when he turns college.

Cyrus Mann gave Crispa 3 titles - the 1976 Open Conference (with Bill Bunton), the 1976 Invitationals (also with Bunton), and the 1977 Open Conference (with good friend Ricky Hicks). He came back in 1979 in what could have been an incredible showdown with young Toyota import Andrew Fields but it didn't turn out so as Mann became a venerable headcase and was shipped home by team manager Danny Floro.

Lawrence "Sweet Lou" Massey is a 6'5 beefy import that played for Gilbey's Gin in the pre-Jaworski days. His tandem with Larry McNeil may be regarded as the most prolific pair of imports in the history of the league, even better than the Joe Ward / Tommy Davis combo of Ginebra in 1988. Massey once scored 85 points in a PBA game while McNeil's scoring record is 88 points with the Winston Kings in 1984.

Andy Fields was the first recipient of the Best Import Award back in the 1981 Open Conference. It was the first time that the PBA gave out recognition to the most valuable import and has been a tradition from thereon.

Michael Young, a southpaw, with a deadly medium to long range jumper, was a 6'5 import of Manila Beer (in tandem with Harold Keeling) that placed 2nd behind Ginebra San Miguel in the 1986 Open Conference and Great Taste Coffee in the 1987 season. One of the most prolific imports ever, Young was a member of the Phi Slamma Jamma of the University of Houston Cougars, alongside Akeem (later Hakeem) Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, former Tanduay import Rob Williams, former Tanduay reinforcement Benny "The Outlaw" Anders, former Great Taste import Alvin Franklin, among others.

Young didn't partner with Ramon Fernandez. By the time Young played for Manila Beer, Fernandez had already been traded for Abet Guidaben of Tanduay in a controversial deal. Guidaben was the teammate of Young with the Brewmasters in the 1986 Open Conference runner-up finish.

The 6'9 Larry Pounds suited up for three different teams. Pounds first came in 1979 to reinforce Royal Tru Orange alongside 6'11 Otto Moore to the championship of the 1979 Open Conference. He came back in 1980 to join the visiting foreign team Nicholas Stoodley selection. That team won the 1980 Invitationals at the expense of the Toyota Tamaraws. In 1981, he joined forces with import Ira Terrell with the Tefilin Polyester Makers (the same team that discovered Norman Black who played for them in the 1981 Reinforced). Pounds was widely known for his foul shooting style - he dribbles once, looks at the goal, dribbles again, looks at the goal, dribbles one more time, and releases the shot.

The 6'8 Byron "Snake" Jones was one of the few Toyota players that played for Crispa and vice versa. Others would include Jess Sta. Maria (Crispa in the MICAA, Toyota in the pros), Danny Florencio (Crispa in the MICAA, Toyota in the pros). But Jones was the only player in history to ever play for both Toyota and Crispa in the PBA.

Jones suited up for the Toyota Comets in the 1975 and 1976 seasons. He moved to U/Tex in the 1977 and 1978 seasons under Tommy Manotoc. He then played alongside James Hardy at Crispa in the 1981 Open Conference - losing out in the Finals to Toyota 3-2, reinforced by Andy Fields and Victor King. He never returned after his Crispa stint. In totality, Jones won 2 titles for Crispa and 1 for U/Tex (alongside Glenn McDonald).

Nag toyota pala yun si Snake Jones. Diba naglaro din sa Crispa yun. Si Larry Mcneil ng Gilbeys Gin i remember scored an all time high in the PBA and what he did was he had one his shoes to be tied in the rafters of Araneta coliseum.

Larry McNeil in his last official game as a professional basketball player left his basketball shoes somewhere near the court on his way to the dugout.

The 6'8 Byron "Snake" Jones was one of the few Toyota players that played for Crispa and vice versa. Others would include Jess Sta. Maria (Crispa in the MICAA, Toyota in the pros), Danny Florencio (Crispa in the MICAA, Toyota in the pros). But Jones was the only player in history to ever play for both Toyota and Crispa in the PBA.

Jess Sta. Maria played for both Crispa and Toyota in the PBA. He played on the first three games for Crispa in 1975.

Does anyone remember the "restricted list" that the PBA implemented sometime in the mid-80s? Essentially, players on the restricted list were true superstars who were only allowed to be traded for one another. This was essentially why Guidaben always found himself switching jerseys with Fernandez, probably because they were the only true superstar centers at the time.

The 80's was also the golden age of imports such as Billy Ray Bates, Norman Black, Michael Hackett and David Thirdkill. They even had a contest on a noontime game show where contestants mimicked Billy Ray's dunks (on a lower-hanging basket, of course).

Does anyone remember the "restricted list" that the PBA implemented sometime in the mid-80s? Essentially, players on the restricted list were true superstars who were only allowed to be traded for one another. This was essentially why Guidaben always found himself switching jerseys with Fernandez, probably because they were the only true superstar centers at the time.

The players on the restricted list were Guidaben, Fernandez and Manny Victorino. I don't remember if Abe King was included in the later part since he was tagged as the franchise by Gold Eagle Beer. IG of CFC didn't want to part ways with his prized center, that's why it's always been Guidaben for Fernandez. After San Miguel, it's been downhill for Guidaben.

What if there was no restrictions and San Miguel got Fernandez in a twin tower combination with Guidaben?